Promoting a Healthy Heart: Oswego Health Raises Awareness Throughout American Heart Month

Oswego, NY – January 29, 2025 – February is American Heart Month, and Oswego Health's Center for Cardiology is committed to raising awareness and encouraging the community to take proactive steps to protect heart health.

“Maintaining a healthy heart is essential to overall well-being,” explains Dr. Thomas Grady, Cardiologist at Oswego Health. “The good news is, it’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your heart. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent conditions like heart attacks and strokes.”

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming approximately 697,000 lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, 1 in 2 adults in the U.S. has some form of heart disease or is at risk, making heart health an urgent priority for individuals and families alike.

“Cardiovascular disease affects millions of people, but many risk factors can be managed through early intervention, lifestyle changes, and effective treatment,” says Dr. David Bass, Cardiologist at Oswego Health. “We’re proud to offer our community access to cutting-edge diagnostic tools and specialized care right here in Oswego County.”

Oswego Health’s Center for Cardiology provides a wide range of noninvasive and invasive tests to help diagnose heart disease, including:

Common Noninvasive Tests:

• Chest X-rays: Reveal if the heart is enlarged or fluid is building up in the lungs.
• Echocardiography: Offers insight into the size, shape, and function of the heart.
• Electrocardiography (ECG): Detects abnormal heartbeats, blood flow problems, and heart enlargement.
• Holter Monitors: Track heart rhythm over a 24-48-hour period to assess how the heart responds to activity.
• Stress Tests: Help diagnose coronary artery disease and determine safe exercise levels.

Common Invasive Tests:

• Blood Tests: Measure fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins in the blood to reveal risk factors for heart disease.
• Coronary Angiography: Identifies blockages in blood vessels or areas of damage from reduced blood flow.
• Nuclear Stress Tests: Show blood supply to the heart and assess damage to heart tissue.

Early intervention is key for individuals managing chronic conditions. Lifestyle factors such as weight, nutrition, and exercise particularly impact heart health. Being overweight strains the heart, increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which raises the risk of heart disease.

However, it’s important to pursue healthy weight management in a safe, sustainable way. “Rapid weight loss can actually be harmful to heart health,” warns Dr. Grady. “Crash diets and extreme routines can cause arrhythmia and disrupt normal heart function.” Oswego Health’s Center for Weight Loss & Surgery now offers Nutritional Counseling, a valuable resource for patients looking to develop heart-healthy eating habits. For more information or to make an appointment, call 315-349-5822.

For individuals with chronic wounds, particularly in the lower extremities, Oswego Health’s Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine plays an important role in preventing complications related to heart disease, including amputation. The American Heart Association has set a goal to reduce heart-related amputations by 20% by 2030, and Oswego Health is working to achieve this goal through comprehensive care. Patients can call 315-326-3780 for more information about wound healing services.

Comprehensive Heart Health Care at Oswego Health

Throughout American Heart Month, Oswego Health’s Center for Cardiology is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need. The center provides expert cardiac services for individuals aged 18 and older, offering diagnostic tests and treatment programs for those recovering from heart-related events.

If you have questions about your cardiovascular health or need specialized care, call the Center for Cardiology at Oswego Health at 315-349-5752. Let’s take action together this February to improve heart health and reduce the impact of heart disease in our community.

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About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be Oswego County’s largest private employer. More than 1,400 employees spread throughout its 18 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 100+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, and bariatrics; for more information about Oswego Health, visit www.oswegohealth.org.